I have found Reiki to be a very effective treatment for the symptoms of abuse, and the abuse itself.

Reiki works with the energy chakras of the body. It is a channeling of "universal energy" directed by one's own higher power or "Christ-consciousness". It sounds a little nebulous, I know, but it works.

What Reiki does best is release all of that blocked energy we have in our bodies - those areas where we don't want to look. It is non-invasive which means it won't do anything you can't handle. It works subtlely on mental, spiritual, emotional and physical levels, wherever the energy is needed most.

I am a Reiki practicioner, Level II, and have been involved with the practice for almost ten years, as I have continued individual counselling and group work. It has accelerated my healing, and has been instrumental in helping me stay clean and sober, feel more deeply, and grow spiritually.

Thanks for responding. I will certainly try to give you more information about Reiki, but the best way to get to know about it is to experience it firsthand from a practicioner.

Reiki, pronounced RAY-key, is the combination of two words. Rei means "universal" and refers to "higher consciousness". Ki means "The Life Force" and refers to one's life force. You've probably also heard it referrred to as "chi". These two words together basically mean "vital life force directed by your higher consciousness".

A Reiki practicioner is able to summon, and be a conduit for, this life force or energy that is in all things. The precticioner puts his or her hands on or near the person receiving Reiki. It doesn't have to be "hands-on" which is good for some victims of abuse. The healing energy is then received, and directed by the receiver's higher consciousness to the areas where it is needed most.

During a treatment, hand positions will change in order to concentrate on the seven energy centres or "chakras" of the body. A practicioner may also work on the knees and feet.

The person receiving Reiki may feel heat radiating from the practicioner's hands. He may visualise things. He may feel very relaxed and even fall asleep, although it is of one's own benefit to stay conscious and be more "in your body".

The energy can work on the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels of being. It can help release addictions, heal the physical body, help you feel more connected to life, even more connected to God. It can also help you heal the issues steming from the abuse. It varies from person to person. It all depends on where you need it most. For me, I've found it most helpful in being able to "feel" - something I cut myself off from after my abuse - and issues around "personal power" - something I didn't think I had very much of.

I hope I've given you the info you need to try Reiki for yourself. It's really the only way to truly know what it's about. Try Googling for Reiki practicioners in your area, and pick one with whom you feel comfortable.

Reiki can be a wonderful introduction to the concept that touch can be safe.....

I began working with Reiki a few years ago, and that gave me the nerve to pursue acupuncture - that, in turn, has given me the nerve to start work with a myofascial release bodyworker. The acupuncturist promotes the movement of energy (chi) in my body, while the myofascial worker is unbinding a muscle structure that has been habituated to hypervigilance during decades of sexual abuse. All three modadlities have been so incredibly helpful in my regaining a sense of "ownership" or presence in my body.

Reike, in its core concepts, is very simple (albiet very powerful) and, although not formally trained, I am now able to do some self-reiki work from time to time.

I am DID, and the bodywork is a reminder that I live in one body.... a respite, for an hour or two, from the voices in my head, a moment of our being one.

I did dance (ballet, tap, and modern) after my cult experience in 1978. It was healing. Now I work with and for a rehab provider in Falls Church and we share the building with a massage school. I'll request Reiki for my next massage therapy session there. Only $19. It's good to ask for what you want. People can't read your mind.

I interviewed with a Medicare psychiatrist last year. She said she couldn't find anbody in her small organization to do the psychotherapy with me. Truth is, I wasn't ready. But she offers medication, psychotherapy, and massage therapy, all on the Medicare nickel, so I didn't burn that bridge. I intend to return.

I am aware I do not carry my hypervigilance and anxiety in my pelvis and lower back, as many survivors do. It's all in the face, mouth, and jaw for me.

The article on Somatic Response in the survivors/adult survivors tab on this site will have a lot of relevance to this thread.

I believe in bodywork and energy flow. I also believe in hugs, handshakes, and singing Christmas carols. What I mean is you don't have to go way out to get help, not always, but sometimes what you get is proportional to how far out you go for it.

I believe that with more consensual, non sexual touching in one's life, one has less need for the release of sexuality, and that America is a neurotic, repressed country as a whole. That doesn't mean an individual has to live that way.

Two things in my life shut me down and repressed my ability to touch and hug appropriately. One, when I moved from HS in Germany, to college at MIT, ET, the most liberal ILG MIT had, said I was "too touchy". Two, in my cult experience selling books 80 hours a week, we were segregated from our female team members into single gender apartments and rented rooms. These were powerful, but hopelessly vague messages I could not confront at the time.

What helps me now is walking meditation; a mindfulness exercise. Sometimes, doing this, the scales fall from my eyes, as the Christians say.

I look forward to recovering from my disorienting abusive and assualatative experiences to the point where I can dance again. Until then, learning about the various types of massage by experiencing them as a paying customer is a good thing.

For any massage client, one always has the choice to simply receive massage or to work with the therapist at exploration and healing by *talking while being touched*. I'm not saying one way is better than the other.

So while I can't say much about Reiki, this is my type of thread, and I figured I'd post. I"m still new here.

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